Top 10 Seafood Markets

1. Pike Place Fish Market, Seattle, WashingtonNow that New York's Fulton Fish Market has moved from its
longtime Manhattan home to a warehouselike building in the Bronx,
Pike Place can claim undisputed status as the nation's most
colorful seafood market. It's also the most fun. The fish fly here,
hurled through the air by employees. So do the jokes, though the
shop is serious about its seafood and will ship almost everything
it sells for next-day delivery. Other attractions at the 9-acre
Pike Place Market include Washington wines and the original
Starbucks; 800/542-7732 or
pikeplacefish.com.

2. Browne Trading Company, Portland, MaineThis old, family-run business has acquired some recent dazzle
through its association with such celebrity chefs as Daniel Boulud
of New York City's Daniel restaurant. The market offers a wide
range of caviars, plus smoked seafood, fish from around the world,
and the usual favorites―lobster, cod, clams, and the like.
Patrons can shop via phone or online. Or they can do what many
chefs prefer: Head to Merrill's Wharf in the Old Port area of
Portland and pick out what looks most appealing; 800/944-7848 or
browne-trading.com.

3. Joe Patti's Seafood Co., Pensacola, FloridaSince its 1931 beginnings on Joe and Anna Patti's back porch,
this seafood shop has grown into a sprawling waterfront
institution. Joe Patti's has changed with the times, adding
delectable extras such as a sushi bar and Anna Patti's Amangiari
Gourmet Shop, plus online ordering and overnight shipping. Still,
the huge selection of terrific seafood remains its primary appeal.
The extended Patti family runs the place with an emphasis on
neighborly service; 800/500-9929 or
joepattis.com.

4. Lexington Market, Baltimore, MarylandSome call it the home of the world's best crab cakes. At the
risk of starting an argument, we're inclined to agree. Lexington
Market, like the rest of downtown Baltimore, has seen palmier days
since its founding in 1782. But it retains an undeniable energy as
diverse cuisines jostle for attention; 410/685-6169 or
lexingtonmarket.com.

Among the market's six seafood purveyors, Faidley Seafood stands
out for its legendary lump crab cakes, best enjoyed immediately,
while standing at the worn counters. For those forced by geography
into delayed gratification, Faidley's ships; 410/727-4898 or
faidleyscrabcakes.com.

5. Sun Fat Seafood Co., San Francisco, CaliforniaSun Fat, in the Mission District, draws raves for its helpful
employees. They patiently explain not only what's what, but also
how to cook it. They'll even cut up your choices for you;
415/282-9339.

Honorable mention goes to Ferry Plaza Seafood, in the Ferry
Building Marketplace. Though the seafood selection is limited, the
views of San Francisco Bay are expansive; 415/274-2561 or
ferryplazaseafood.com.

6. Keys Fisheries Market and Marina, Marathon, FloridaThis market-restaurant-marina supplies spiny lobsters, stone
crab claws, and other Florida Keys-centric
delicacies―including, of course, Key lime pie. Its customers
include the famous Joe's Stone Crab restaurant in Miami Beach. Both
the shop and the online store feature a favorite local concoction:
a Lobster Reuben sandwich; 866/743-4353 or
keysfisheries.com.

7. Fisherman's Express, Anchorage, AlaskaThis market, founded and operated by a former commercial crab
fisherman, specializes in Alaskan king crab. It also sells such
other Alaskan specialties as halibut cheeks―all wild, not
farm-raised. Browsers can visit the shop in downtown Anchorage or
on the Web site, which includes photo galleries depicting
fearsome-looking crabs and the unbelievably harsh conditions that
crabbers endure to harvest them; 888/926-3474 or
fishermansexpress.com.

8. B & A Seafood, Port Isabel, TexasB & A specializes in fish and shellfish straight from the
Gulf of Mexico―again, wild rather than farm-raised. The name
of the Web site, freshtexasshrimp.com, hints at the biggest seller,
especially to vacationers enjoying South Padre Island and other
nearby resort areas. For those who are too hungry to wait, or who
prefer to let someone else do the cooking, B & A recently
opened the Harbor View Restaurant. The company also ships; call
956/943-2461 or visit
freshtexasshrimp.com.

9. Lighthouse Deli & Fish Company, South Beach, OregonLighthouse Deli sits just south of the elegant arches of the
Yaquina Bay Bridge, which connects to Newport. The deli rose to
prominence in 1994, when Portland's
Oregonian newspaper declared it the purveyor of the best
fish-and-chips on the Oregon coast. In 2001,
Coastal Living included it in our annual roundup of
great
seafood dives. In addition to being a great casual restaurant,
this slightly ramshackle place also sells a great selection of
locally caught seafood, both on premises and through the Web site.
The name comes from the Yaquina Bay and Yaquina Head lighthouses,
each practically within swimming distance; 866/816-7716 or
lighthousedeli.com.

10. Empire Fish, Milwaukee, WisconsinWisconsin restaurants have long depended on Empire Fish,
which has been selling seafood since 1913. The retail store lets
consumers choose from the same fish, shellfish, and other goodies
that are available to chefs. The selection spans both Great Lakes
waters and distant seas. Unfortunately for those who don't live in
Milwaukee, you have to visit the store. Empire Fish does not ship;
414/259-1330 or
empirefish.com.